CN113164224A

CN113164224A - Energy recovery device

Info

Publication number: CN113164224A
Application number: CN201980077839.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 弗雷德里克·雷泽胡比尔
Original assignee: Snake Brand Jsc
Current assignee: Snake Brand Jsc; Aesculap AG
Priority date: 2018-12-19
Filing date: 2019-12-17
Publication date: 2021-07-23
Also published as: US20220039911A1; WO2020127340A2; EP3897444A2; JP2022514857A; WO2020127340A3; JP7431240B2; DE102018132962A1; US11911226B2

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy recovery device for a rechargeable energy accumulator, which energy recovery device is arranged on a fluid line through which a fluid of an existing fluid circuit flows in a device. The fluid flow in the fluid line is used primarily for a predetermined purpose, which is different from the purpose of energy recovery. The energy recovery device is arranged to extract energy for charging the rechargeable accumulator from kinetic energy of the fluid flow. A module that can be incorporated into the apparatus may comprise an energy recovery apparatus. The device may be a cleaning/disinfecting device (RDG) for treating medical instruments, systems and/or products, wherein the medical instruments, systems and/or products comprise at least one handpiece having a chargeable energy accumulator which can be coupled to and/or integrated in the handpiece, wherein the energy accumulator is configured as a battery or a power cell and is designed for being treated together with the handpiece in the cleaning/disinfecting device.

Description

Energy recovery device

Technical Field

The invention relates to an energy recovery/conversion device for an energy store, in particular an energy recovery/conversion device for an energy store, having a module for wireless and/or wired charging of the energy store by means of a fluid flow existing in the device.

Background

Wireless systems, for example, systems which are operated with a rechargeable battery and have an attachable energy store, such as electric motor systems, surgical instruments in the medical field, etc., are increasingly being introduced into the market, so that there is a general trend to switch from a wired system to a wireless or so-called stand-alone system having an energy store ("rechargeable battery"). These accumulators must be powered to guarantee the availability of the products supplied with energy by them.

A disadvantage in this case is that energy storage-based products and systems, such as motor-equipped handpieces in the medical field, must be charged before the respectively intended use.

One conventional solution is: the handpiece is decoupled from the energy accumulator and the charged, replaceable energy accumulator is stored directly at a treatment site, for example an operating room (OP). The sterilized handpiece is then fitted with an energy accumulator in the OP. In this case, the additional necessary handling of the individual energy stores, the corresponding structural dimensioning, etc., are a greater disadvantage.

In the coming years, further miniaturization of the respective systems and products is expected, wherein smaller accumulators (accumulators, power cells, etc.) can be envisaged. It has now been envisioned that these accumulators can be integrated into the handpiece or incorporated into a smaller system.

In the case where such systems and/or handpieces have to be treated before being reused, as is often the case in e.g. the medical field, it is necessary to treat these systems and/or handpieces, that is to say also their accumulators or batteries, in a cleaning/disinfecting device (RDG). The goal is therefore to transition from the energy store stored in the OP to the integrated energy store. The need to charge the energy store in the OP separately inevitably leads to unnecessary or unnecessarily complicated operating processes and higher and even disruptive costs with correspondingly higher costs.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an energy recovery device/energy conversion device which makes it possible to charge a system with an energy store in an OP before use and thus improves the ease of operation and usability of such a system.

In addition, the present invention is intended to make it possible to obtain or "harvest" and thus charge the accumulator in the RDG.

This object is achieved according to the invention by an energy recovery device/energy conversion device having the features of claim 1, by a module having the features of claim 13 and by a cleaning/disinfecting device having the features of claim 14. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

According to the basic idea of the invention, it is intended to make it possible to charge the system before use by taking, that is to say obtaining or "harvesting" electrical energy from an existing fluid circuit for charging the system and/or the product. A data transmission interface is also provided via which the charging state can be read or a function is provided for reporting the charging state of the connected system or product to the outside.

A particular example of the basic idea of the invention is to "harvest", i.e. to obtain or generate (electrical) energy for charging (surgical) systems and/or products used in the medical field, such as hand pieces or the like with integrated or couplable accumulators, during product handling by means of an existing fluid circuit, e.g. a water circulation circuit, in or from a cleaning and disinfection apparatus (RDG), for example in the medical field, so that the necessary charging of the systems and/or products before use in OP is made possible. The energy recovery device/energy conversion device which is provided for the supply can be designed as a module which can be read by means of a data transmission interface or which reports the charging state of the connected product to the outside.

In other words, the basic idea-according to the preceding specific example-comprises an energy recovery device or a module for wireless or wired charging of an accumulator with a fluid pressure existing for other purposes in an existing or existing fluid flow or fluid circuit, such as a water circulation circuit in a washing and disinfecting device. It goes without saying that neither the basic idea nor the invention is limited to the medical field and in particular to the fluid circuit of the RDG in this medical field and to the corresponding system and/or product. An important feature of the present invention is that electrical energy is recovered from existing power systems, such as fluid flows for cooling/running/cleaning, as a byproduct in practice, and then can be used to advantage to charge the accumulator of the surgical instrument.

The advantages which can be directly derived from this possibility according to the invention include that the system and/or the product can be charged by taking energy from a fluid circuit, for example during a process in an RDG: the preparation time is obviously saved; reduction in processing cost of a use site or an application site such as OP; immediate applicability of the system and product at the point of use or application; and the possibility to view the charging status via a data transfer interface, e.g. via an application for the mobile device, software on a PC, etc.

This object is achieved in particular by an energy recovery device/energy conversion device for a rechargeable energy accumulator, wherein the energy recovery device is adapted to be arranged on/in a fluid line through which a fluid of an existing fluid circuit flows in a device, and the fluid flow in the fluid line is mainly used for a predetermined purpose, which is different from the purpose of energy recovery. The energy recovery device is arranged to derive electrical energy from the kinetic energy of the fluid flow for charging the rechargeable accumulator.

The energy recovery device is preferably modular and is provided for generating electrical energy by means of an energy recovery process based on the fluid pressure in the existing fluid circuit of the device and for charging the energy store with the energy thus generated.

It is further preferred that the energy recovery device comprises a conversion unit for converting fluid pressure of the fluid flow or flow energy of the fluid into a rotational movement of, for example, a turbine and a generator unit for converting the rotational movement into generated electrical energy.

The conversion unit for converting fluid pressure/flow energy into a rotational movement preferably comprises a rotor element having a predetermined geometry, which is rotatably mounted in the housing of the energy recovery device and is rotatably located in the fluid flow.

It is advantageous here if the predetermined geometry is impeller-shaped or spiral-shaped. Alternatively, however, a so-called spherical turbine is also conceivable, which consists of a sphere, along the equator of which peripherally spaced-apart pockets (Tasche) are provided, which serve as pressure collection grooves for the rotor-driven spheres. The ball itself can be passed through the center by a rotary shaft which is mounted rotatably on both sides of the ball.

In addition, the conversion unit for converting fluid pressure into rotary motion in the energy recovery device may be an electric motor driven by the fluid flow during the flushing process and operating as a generator, which electric motor comprises a rotor having a predetermined geometry and is configured to interact with a stator element to generate an electric current, with which the energy storage device can be charged by means of an induction device for inductively charging the energy storage device or by means of a charging line for wired charging of the energy storage device.

Preferably, the energy recovery device comprises an electronic control system, which is arranged in a housing of the energy recovery device on the printed circuit board.

The energy recovery device is advantageously configured to detect a charging state of the energy store and to open a bypass when a predetermined (maximum) charging state is detected, wherein the bypass is provided to conduct a fluid flow around the switching unit in the open state, and wherein the switching unit is configured to stop both the rotation and the generation of energy for charging the energy store in this case.

Preferably, the electrical energy generated by the generator unit can be transmitted by induction to the energy store and/or a product via a flexible printed circuit board comprising induction lines.

Alternatively, the energy generated by the generator unit can preferably be transmitted to the energy storage device via a charging cable in a wired connection.

It is also preferred that the module in the energy recovery system has a device for determining the charge state of the connected energy store and a data transmission interface via which the module can be read or via which the charge state is transmitted to the outside.

A module containing an energy recovery device may be constructed, wherein the module is used during processing of products, systems and/or instruments having an integrated or attachable, replaceable and rechargeable accumulator and is configured to be held or supported in a processing device during processing. The module is characterized in that: an energy recovery device as hereinbefore described; an interface for connecting the module to a fluid circuit of a processing apparatus; a tubing connection for directing fluid flowing into the module at the interface through the module; a port section; at least one connection port for at least one product, system and/or instrument, which connection port is provided on the port section and is configured to hold a product, system or instrument in such a way that water flowing in via the connection port can flow through this product, system or instrument; and an induction device which is arranged in a region below the connection port in a planar manner, in which region an energy store (not shown) of the product, system and/or apparatus connected to the connection port is connected and which is designed to charge the energy store during operation of the treatment device by means of energy which is obtained by the energy recovery device from the fluid flow. Furthermore, an electronic control system for controlling the operating process can be provided on the module.

In a practical case, the device is preferably a cleaning/disinfecting device (RDG) for treating medical instruments, systems and/or products, wherein the medical instruments, systems and/or products comprise at least one handpiece with a chargeable energy accumulator which can be coupled to the handpiece and/or integrated in the handpiece, wherein the energy accumulator is configured as a battery or a power cell and is designed for being treated together with the handpiece in the cleaning/disinfecting device.

Then, a cleaning/disinfecting device (RDG) for treating medical instruments, systems and/or products is further preferred, wherein the medical instruments, systems and/or products comprise at least one handpiece with a chargeable energy accumulator which can be coupled to the handpiece and/or integrated in the handpiece, wherein the energy accumulator is configured as a battery or a power cell and is designed for being treated together with the handpiece in the cleaning/disinfecting device. In a cleaning/disinfecting device, an energy recovery device according to any one of the preceding claims is configured for: a) held on a predetermined support structure or a predetermined filter basket of the cleaning/disinfecting device, or b) designed as a module integrated in a cleaning rack of the cleaning/disinfecting device, said module having an induction device for transmitting energy wirelessly by induction or a charging cable arrangement for transmitting energy by cable connection for charging a product connected to the cleaning/disinfecting device, or c) designed as a module integrated in a predetermined support structure of the cleaning/disinfecting device, said module having an induction device for transmitting energy wirelessly by induction or a charging cable arrangement for transmitting energy by cable connection for charging an instrument device received in the cleaning/disinfecting device and equipped with at least one energy accumulator or a product connected to a hose section of the cleaning/disinfecting device .

In this case, the module can be permanently assembled in a cleaning/disinfecting device (RDG) and connected to at least one splash-permeable charging mat and/or at least one charging cable, wherein the charging mat is configured to inductively charge at least one product, which is placed on the charging mat, with energy generated by the module, and the charging cable is configured to charge at least one separate product, which is connected via the charging cable, with energy generated by the module, via the charging cable.

Drawings

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows a schematic view of the principle of energy recovery using the energy or pressure of a fluid flow in a hose section of a device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a module integrated in a washing rack, which module is operatively connected to an induction device for charging respective accumulators of a number of products in an energy recovery device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a filter basket mounted module operatively connected to an induction device for charging an accumulator of a separate product in an energy recovery apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the relationship described in connection with FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a module with a charging pad permanently assembled in a cleaning/disinfecting device in an energy recovery device according to an embodiment;

fig. 6 shows a schematic view of an application of an electric motor assembled in a product as a generator for charging an accumulator of the product with energy generated in the operation of the generator in an energy recovery device according to a further embodiment; and

fig. 7 shows a schematic view of an application of an electric motor assembled in a product as a generator for charging an accumulator of the product with energy generated in the operation of the generator in the energy recovery device according to the further embodiment.

In the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or at least equivalent parts and assemblies. In this regard, repetitive redundant description of such parts and assemblies is appropriately omitted.

Detailed Description

The preferred embodiment of the energy recovery device described here is described below by way of example with reference to a cleaning/disinfecting device (RDG) which is known per se, as it is used, for example, in the medical field for preparing reusable products, systems and/or instrumentation. For cleaning and disinfection, a combination of mechanical, thermal and chemical treatments is used in one RDG, which combination is for example similar to a dishwasher. Heated water, with chemicals added as necessary, is applied with pressure to the object to be cleaned. It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the medical field, to products, systems and/or equipment used therein, or to be provided in or to be used with an RDG, but rather correspondingly modified configurations and modifications for many further and/or other products with integrated or couplable (exchangeable) accumulators and equipment with fluid circuits are conceivable and can be constructed.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a device in a front view and a top view for illustrating the principle of energy recovery by means of the energy or pressure of a fluid flow in a hose section of a device according to an exemplary embodiment. In the present embodiment, the apparatus is a known cleaning/disinfecting device (RDG) as previously described.

In fig. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a hose or pipe section of a fluid circuit in the plant, for example a water circuit in an RDG. The fluid/water flow in the hose section 2 with a predetermined fluid pressure/water pressure and/or a predetermined flow velocity is indicated by black arrows.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an energy recovery apparatus of the embodiment. The energy recovery device 4 has a conversion unit which is designed as a shaft or a rotor 6 with a predetermined geometry, for example an impeller-shaped geometry or a spiral-shaped geometry, and is provided and configured for converting a longitudinal movement of the fluid flow in the hose portion 2 into a rotational movement. The fluid flow or its pressure and/or velocity acts on the rotor 6 and causes it to rotate. A power generating device 8 is provided and configured for converting the rotational movement of the rotor 6 into energy, that is to say generating energy. The power plant 8 is coupled to an electronic control system 10 which may be arranged on a printed circuit board (not shown) and which is mainly configured for controlling at least the energy recovery and the distribution of the obtained energy and its predetermined conversion and derivation from the energy recovery plant 4. The entire system is received in a fluid-tight manner in a housing as described above.

In the case of energy recovery using the energy or pressure of the fluid flow, therefore, what is known as harvesting or "harvesting" of energy is actually carried out, while a unit (conversion unit or its rotor 6) is driven by the fluid flow or the hydraulic pressure of the fluid flow, which converts the hydraulic pressure in the hose section 2 into a rotational movement, for example by means of an impeller, a worm shaft or the like. A generator (power generation device 8) is used to convert the rotational motion into energy. An electronic control system 10 is located, for example, on a printed circuit board. The whole system is protected by a cover.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a module 100 integrated on a washing rack of an RDG, which is operatively connected to a sensing device 110 for charging an accumulator of a product, system or apparatus 120 in the energy recovery device according to the described embodiment. By cleaning rack is meant here a rack similar to the well-known cleaning basket in RDG, on or in which the parts to be treated can be placed. The wash rack is shown in figure 2 as part of the background structure.

The module 100 is configured to be placed on a wash rack, wherein holders or fixing possibilities can be provided. The module 100 has an interface 105 for connecting it to the water circulation circuit of the RDG. The arrows in fig. 2 represent the flow paths of water through the module 100 in RDG operation. As shown in fig. 2, the water flows into the module 100 at the rear connection 105 and is guided via a line 115 (which in this exemplary embodiment comprises the hose section 2, but can also be at least partially or completely rigid) to a port section 130. The port section 130 has a number of connection ports 135 for products, systems and/or instruments. In this embodiment, for example, 3 connection ports 135 are provided, and a handpiece 120 according to fig. 2 is held as a handpiece of a product, system or apparatus on one of the connection ports 135 in such a way that water flowing in via the respective connection port 135 can flow through the handpiece.

Furthermore, the energy recovery device or energy recovery unit 4 shown in fig. 1 is arranged in the line 115 in such a way that it is flowed through by the water flowing through the line 115 and performs the functions and functions described above with reference to fig. 1. That is to say that in operation of the RDG, water flows through the energy recovery device 4, the rotor 6 rotatably supported therein rotates and the power plant 8 coupled to the rotor 6 derives or extracts energy by means of the rotation from a water flow which is mainly used for the treatment in the RDG (and therefore not mainly for energy recovery).

The generated energy is then converted by the electronic control system 10, for example, into a suitable form and is conducted out to the induction device 110 via a pipe connection or induction line 140. The sensing device 110 may comprise, for example, a flexible printed circuit board with sensing lines as a suitable additional peripheral device. As shown in fig. 2, the sensor device 110 is arranged in a plane below the connection port 135 in a region in which an energy store (not shown) of a product, system and/or device connected to the connection port 135 is connected. In this way, these energy stores can be charged during the RDG operation, that is to say during the treatment operation or the cleaning and disinfection operation thereof, by means of the induction device 135, which is supplied with energy from the water flow by the energy recovery device.

The energy recovery device 4 for the rechargeable energy accumulator is therefore arranged on a fluid line of an existing fluid circuit in the device, through which the fluid flows. The fluid flow in the fluid line is used primarily for a predetermined purpose, which is different from the purpose of energy recovery. The energy recovery device is arranged for deriving energy from the fluid flow for charging the rechargeable accumulator. The module 100 comprises the energy recovery device 4 and an inductive device 110 which is supplied with power from the ("harvested") energy obtained in the energy recovery device 4 and is configured to charge an energy store located in its inductive field during the time when the RDG is carrying out its predetermined operating process and the energy recovery device 4 is simultaneously obtaining energy from the water circuit of the RDG. In other words, "harvested" energy is transferred to the product, system and/or instrument via induction and thus suitable additional peripheral devices such as a flexible printed circuit board with induction lines. As an alternative, a charging connection via one + -pole terminal and thus via one charging line can also be considered. The RDG includes at least one module 100 configured to be retained on at least one wash rack of the RDG and connected to a water circulation loop of the RDG.

In a modification of the above-described embodiment, provision may be made for: the product, system and/or appliance reports to the electronic control system 10 that a predetermined energy storage state or state of charge of its accumulator has been reached. In this case, the electronic control system 10 can be configured to mechanically activate an opening of the bypass device by means of suitable actuation of, for example, an actuator or a valve, which is provided and configured to divert and guide the water flow around the rotor 6 such that the rotor 6 no longer rotates, so that the generator device 8 no longer generates energy and therefore the charging of the energy store is terminated or at least terminated during the duration of the opening of the bypass device.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a module 100 mounted in a filter basket, which is operatively connected to a sensing device 135 for charging an accumulator of a product, system or apparatus in the energy recovery device 4 according to the described embodiment.

As shown in fig. 3, the module 100 shown in fig. 2 can be configured in a variant for charging a (separate) product, system or device. In this case, the configuration of the module can be simplified, for example, in such a way that the (separate) connection port 135 is assembled directly on the energy recovery device 4. In addition, the inductive device 110 can be constructed correspondingly smaller. It is pointed out here that: fig. 3 also shows the module 100 in bolted connection with a wash rack or filter basket for fastening thereto or therein.

It is understood that the modification shown in fig. 3 is not limited to charging products, systems or instruments, and that any other product, system and/or instrument having an integrated or attachable, replaceable and rechargeable accumulator may be charged in a single configuration of the module 100.

For example, by means of a corresponding length, size and/or arrangement of the line connection 140 or the inductive device 110, for example, arranged or positioned at a relatively large distance from the energy recovery device 4, it is also possible to inductively charge an energy store of a more space-consuming, that is to say larger product, system or instrument which, despite its space-consuming and therefore spaced apart from other components, does not require flushing and therefore does not need to be coupled to a connection port 135. In one such case, the connection port 135 on the energy recovery device 4 may be omitted.

A further modification of the above-described exemplary embodiments allows larger products, systems and/or devices both in the single configuration described above (with a connection port 135 directly on the energy recovery device 4 as shown in fig. 3) and in a module 100 with a plurality of connection ports 135, in which at least one connection for the line connection 140 to the sensor device 110 can be designed to be insertable and the connection port 135 can be closed mechanically and fluid-tightly, for example by means of an actuator and/or valve which is actuated by the electronic control system 10 and which regulates the closure device, or by means of a diaphragm or closure device which opens/closes automatically when coupling/uncoupling the product, system or device, etc.

In this case, it may be configured such that, when the electronic control system 10 detects the presence of a product, system or instrument and/or a sensing device 110 connected to the energy recovery device 4, but detects that a corresponding connection port 135 is not occupied, that is to say when the electronic control system recognizes that a product, system or instrument accumulator should be charged, but the product, system or instrument should not be flushed and therefore not connected to the connection port 135, the electronic control system 10 issues a command to close the connection port 135 fluid-tightly and to direct the charging energy to the sensing device 135 to charge the corresponding accumulator.

In the above-described configuration, space-consuming products, systems and/or devices which cannot be connected to the at least one existing connection port 135 on the module 100 or on the energy recovery device 4, or which cannot be flushed and therefore cannot be connected to the existing connection ports 135 on the module 100 or on the energy recovery device 4, due to their size or design, can also be disposed of by simultaneously energizing their energy stores if the module 100 and/or the energy recovery device 4 have one or more connection ports 135. In other words, a space-consuming product, system or apparatus does not require a particular embodiment of the module 100 and/or energy recovery device 4 (with/without connection ports, respectively), but any product, system or apparatus can be processed and simultaneously charged using a uniformly configured module 100 or energy recovery device 4. It is pointed out here that: the unoccupied connection port 135 can be closed according to the standard, so that there is a maximum fluid pressure or water pressure, respectively, on the occupied port.

Fig. 4 shows in a schematic diagram the relationship explained above in connection with fig. 3. For reasons of simplicity and clarity, redundant reference numerals have been omitted in fig. 4.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a module with a charging mat permanently assembled in a cleaning/disinfecting device in an energy recovery device according to an embodiment (Stand Alone variant).

According to the embodiment shown in fig. 5, a module 100 (an energy recovery device 4) is permanently assembled in an RDG and is connected to at least one charging mat 160, which may be designed to be permeable to splash water. On the at least one charging mat 160, products, systems and/or instrumentation with integrated or coupled replaceable accumulators, which are placed in the filter basket 165, can then be inductively charged with and without flushing. Likewise, a single product 170 with an energy accumulator, for example, which is not flushable, can be connected directly to the energy recovery device 4 and charged by means of a (charging) connection 180.

Fig. 6 shows, as a further modification, a schematic illustration of the use of a flushed electric motor 200, which is integrated in the product 120 and which, in an energy recovery device or energy recovery module according to a further embodiment, serves as a generator for charging an energy store (not shown) of the product with energy generated during the operation of the generator. Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of an application of the electric motor assembled in a product as a generator for charging an accumulator of the product with energy generated in the operation of the generator in the energy recovery device according to the further embodiment. According to fig. 6 and 7, the energy recovery device 4 can be said to be moved into a product, system or apparatus, or there be used corresponding existing technical elements in situ for energy recovery.

The motor 200 acts as a generator in the RDG during flushing. A rotor 210 of the motor 200, which is formed with a suitable geometry (for example, a worm shaft shape), cooperates with a stator of the motor to generate electric current. The generated current is used to charge the energy storage via an inductive device 110, alternatively by means of a charging cable (not shown). An electronic control system 10 is used if desired. In addition, the module 100 shown in fig. 7 corresponds to the module 100 shown in fig. 2, with the exception of the energy recovery device 4, whose function is assumed in this exemplary embodiment by the electric motor 200 which is flushed and is operated during flushing in generator mode.

As already mentioned, an energy recovery device for a rechargeable energy accumulator is arranged on a fluid line through which a fluid flows of a fluid circuit already present in the device. The fluid flow in the fluid line is used primarily for a predetermined purpose, which is different from the purpose of energy recovery. The energy recovery device is arranged for deriving energy for charging the rechargeable energy accumulator from the kinetic energy of the fluid flow. A module that can be incorporated into a device may include an energy recovery device. The device may in fact be a cleaning/disinfecting device (RDG) for treating medical instruments, systems and/or products, wherein the medical instruments, systems and/or products comprise at least one handpiece with a rechargeable energy accumulator that can be coupled thereto and/or integrated therein, wherein the energy accumulator is configured as a battery or a power cell and is designed for being treated together with the handpiece in the cleaning/disinfecting device.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but that modifications, variations, combinations and equivalent arrangements within the protective scope defined by the claims are likewise encompassed by the invention, wherein such modifications, variations, combinations and equivalent arrangements are readily obtainable from the expert.

Claims

1. An energy recovery device for a rechargeable energy accumulator, wherein the energy recovery device is arranged on or in a fluid line of an existing fluid circuit of a medical device, and the fluid flow in the fluid line is mainly used for a predetermined purpose, which is different from the purpose of energy recovery,

the method is characterized in that:

the energy recovery device is arranged to extract energy for charging the chargeable accumulator from kinetic energy of the fluid flow.

2. The energy recovery device of claim 1, wherein: the energy recovery device is modular and is provided for generating energy by means of an energy recovery process based on the fluid pressure in the existing fluid circuit of the device and for charging the energy accumulator with the energy thus generated.

3. The energy recovery device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: a conversion unit for converting a fluid pressure of the fluid flow into a rotational movement and a generator unit for converting a rotational movement into generated energy.

4. The energy recovery device of claim 3, wherein: the conversion unit for converting the fluid pressure into a rotational movement comprises a rotor element having a predetermined geometry, which is rotatably mounted in a housing of the energy recovery device and is rotatably located in the fluid flow.

5. The energy recovery device of claim 4, wherein: the predetermined geometry is designed in the form of a vane or a spiral.

6. The energy recovery device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that: the conversion unit for converting the fluid pressure into a rotary motion is an electric motor which is driven by the fluid flow during the flushing process and which operates as a generator, which electric motor comprises a rotor with a predetermined geometry and is configured to interact with a stator element to generate an electric current with which the energy accumulator can be charged by means of an induction device for inductively charging the energy accumulator or by means of a charging line for wired charging of the energy accumulator.

7. The energy recovery device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the energy recovery device includes an electronic control system disposed on a printed circuit board in a housing of the energy recovery device.

8. The energy recovery device of claim 7, wherein: the electronic control system is configured to detect a charging state of the energy accumulator and to open a bypass when a predetermined charging state is detected, wherein the bypass is provided to conduct the fluid flow past the converter unit in the open state, and in this case the converter unit is configured to stop both the rotation and the generation of energy for charging the energy accumulator.

9. The energy recovery device of claim 3, wherein: the energy generated by the generator unit can be transmitted by induction to the energy accumulator and/or product via a flexible printed circuit board comprising induction lines.

10. The energy recovery device of claim 3, wherein: the energy generated by the generator unit can be transmitted to the energy store via a charging cable in a wired connection.

11. The energy recovery device of claim 2, wherein: the module has a device for determining the charge state of the connected energy store and a data transmission interface via which the module can read or transmit the charge state to the outside.

12. The energy recovery device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the device is a cleaning/disinfecting device (RDG) for treating a medical instrument, system and/or product, wherein the medical instrument, system and/or product comprises at least one handpiece having a chargeable energy accumulator which can be coupled to the handpiece and/or integrated in the handpiece, wherein the energy accumulator is configured as a battery or a power cell and is designed for being treated together with the handpiece in the cleaning/disinfecting device.

13. A module for use in a process for products, systems and/or instruments having an integrated or coupleable, replaceable and rechargeable accumulator, wherein the module is configured to be held or supported in a process apparatus during the process, and wherein the module is characterized by:

the energy recovery device of any one of the preceding claims 1 to 12;

an interface for connecting the module with a fluid circuit of the processing apparatus;

a plumbing connection for directing fluid flowing into the module at the interface through the module;

a port section;

at least one connection port for at least one product, system and/or instrument, which connection port is provided on the port section and is configured to hold the product, system or instrument in such a way that a fluid flowing in via the connection port can flush this product, system or instrument; and

an induction device which is arranged in a region of the energy store of a product, system and/or apparatus connected to the connection port in a connected state, in a plane below the connection port, and which is configured to charge the energy store during operation of the treatment device by means of energy which is obtained from the fluid flow by the energy recovery device.

14. A cleaning/disinfecting device (RDG) for treating a medical instrument, system and/or product, wherein the medical instrument, system and/or product comprises at least one handpiece having a chargeable energy accumulator which can be coupled to the handpiece and/or integrated in the handpiece, the energy accumulator being configured as a battery or as a power cell and being designed for being treated in the cleaning/disinfecting device together with the handpiece,

the method is characterized in that:

the energy recovery device of any one of the preceding claims configured for

a) Held on a predetermined support structure or a predetermined filter basket of said cleaning/disinfecting device, or

b) A module configured to be integrated on a wash rack of the cleaning/disinfecting device, the module having an induction device for wirelessly transmitting energy by induction or a charging cord arrangement assembly for wired transmission of energy for charging a product connected to the cleaning/disinfecting device, or

c) A module configured to be integrated on a predetermined support structure of the cleaning/disinfecting device, the module having an induction device for wirelessly transmitting energy by induction or a charging cable arrangement for wired transmission of energy for charging an instrument device received in the cleaning/disinfecting device and equipped with at least one energy accumulator or a product connected to a hose section of the cleaning/disinfecting device.

15. Cleaning/disinfecting device (RDG) according to claim 14, characterized in that: the module is permanently assembled in the cleaning/disinfecting device (RDG) and is connected to at least one splash-permeable charging mat and/or at least one charging cable, wherein the charging mat is designed to inductively charge at least one product, which is placed on the charging mat and has at least one energy store, with energy generated by the module, and the charging cable is designed to charge at least one separate product, which is connected via the charging cable and has an energy store, with energy generated by the module via the charging cable.

16. A method for charging an energy store of a surgical instrument, having the following method steps:

connecting or placing a surgical instrument with an energy accumulator assembled therein to a cleaning and/or disinfecting device,

-connecting an energy recovery device converting fluid flow energy into electrical energy, preferably having the features of any one of claims 1 to 12, with the cleaning and/or disinfection device, preferably at a fluid input or fluid output thereof,

connecting the energy accumulator to the energy recovery device, wherein the connecting step to the energy accumulator can also be performed before the connecting step to the energy recovery device,

-operating the cleaning and/or sanitizing device as specified.